JERUSALEM, September 7, 2016 (WAFA) – The Israeli municipality of Jerusalem forced a Palestinian resident of the city to demolish his own home claiming it was built without a permit otherwise it will demolish it and make him pay all costs, the homeowner told WAFA on Wednesday.

Nabih Basiti, 53, said he and his family proceeded Tuesday night to knock down the walls to his 60-square meter home located on the third floor of a building in Wad Street in the old city of Jerusalem.

He said municipality staff informed him that his home, built since 1997, should be demolished to avoid prison term and high fines plus paying demolition costs if municipality crew is going to carry out the destruction.

He said he has already paid some $15,000 in fines for building without a permit and that he cannot afford to pay more or risk being imprisoned prompting him to destroy his own home.

Palestinians say the municipality rarely allows them to build or renovate homes in the Old City, which they say is a policy that aims at forcing them to leave it and move elsewhere so that Jewish families could move in their place.

M.A.